Label marker



Nov. 29, 1932. I A. F. HOFFMAN 1,339,246

LABEL MARKER Filed April 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1932. v v A. F. HOFFMAN ,889,246

LABEL MARKER Filed April '7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 29, 1932. HOFFMAN 1,889,246 I LABEL MARKER Filed April 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 unirsn STATES PATENT @FFECE ALBERT F. HQIEFMAN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HOFFMAN BEVERAGE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW J ERSEY, .A. CORIORATION 0F NEVJ JERSEY LABEL MARKER Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to means for applying identifying marks to containers and has for its object to provide such an apparatus which is simple and readily adapted to existing filling or labeling machines. Another object is the provision of such a device which is adapted to apply the date or other identification marks to both the label and container so that the marks are permanent even though the label be removed. A furtherobject is the provision of means for applying such marks so that they are inconspicuous and yet sufficiently substantial to avoid the likelihood of being obliterated.

In packaging or bottling certain products, especially edibles, it is in some cases desirable to have a permanent indication on the bottle or other container as to the date of packaging, or an arbitrary mark indicating the particular batch of ingredients. Such an indication is valuable in helping to trace and check the ingredients in case there should be any complaints about the goods. Under certain conditions of manufacture it is not practicable to print such an indication on the label, or to perforate the label, and the present invention provides means for applying a suitable mark under these conditions.

According to this invention a rotatable cutter makes a thin slit in a particular location on the label to represent the month and another corresponding mark in a different position to represent the year. These marks may extend through the label onto the surface of the container of glass or other material. Preferably this marking mechanism is applied to a labeling machine so as to afford the desired date indication before the goods are bulked.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to a labeled bottle Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the marking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 4 is a section on the line l4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section through the container above the marking mechanism at the begin ning of the cutting or marking; and

1928. Serial Nb. 268,185.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 I

but at the conclusion of the marking.

For purposes of illustration this invention has been shown as embodied in a mechanism for marking labels 11 on glass bottles 10. In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the edge 12 of the label is provided with a number of printed or scored lines of short length and the opposite edge 13 of the label is provided with somewhat similar marks. A. thin slit or cut 14 is made on the edge 12 over one of the lines indicated so as'to be relatively inconspicuous. A similar cut or slit 15 is made on the opposite edge 13. Each cut may extend through the label and onto the surface of the bottle so that'the bottle will be marked with the cuts or scratches at the desired height even though the label be removed. If each of the lines on the edge 12 indicates a month and each of the marks on the edge 13 indicates a year then inasmuch as the labels are accurately placed on each bottle it will be seen that the marks or cuts will thus designate the month and the year, whether the label remains on the bottle or not and because the marks are relatively thin slits they are not noticeable except to the trained eye looking for such indications.

The rotatable carrier 16 in Fig.2 is the table of some usual form of label applying machine provided with some customary means for positioning bottles 10 thereon which includes the holding arm 17 cooperating with the top of the bottle. Adjacent the carrier or table 16 is a stationary post 19 supporting theframes 20 and 21 which may be connected across the top at a height sufficient to provide adequate clearance above the bottles. As shown in Fig. 3 a bracket 22 is secured to each of the frames 20 and 21 by means of screws 28 or other suitable means. It will be seen that these screws pass through elongated slots in the brackets so as to enable the brac :ets to be slightly adjustable vertically. in each bracket by the collars illustrated on top of the'brackets are the pivot pins 2 l each of which is provided with notches 25 to facilitate the adjustment and holding of the arms 26 fixed to each of the pins 24 at the Rotatably supported 7 desired height. A thin rotatable hardened cutter 27 similar to but larger than that used for glass cutting is mounted on the outer end of one of the arms 26, the cutter being sharp enough to cut a thin slit in a moist label without tearing and at the same time out orscratch the. surface of the glass underneath the label. A similar cutter 28 is rotatably mounted on the opposite arm Secured to the lower portion of each pivotal pin 24 is another arm 29 extending in the direction illustrated and arranged to cooperate with a bottle on the carrier 16 after the cutters 27 and 28 have engaged the bottle. Some means is provided for biasing the arms against a bottle yet permitting them to yield: in allowing the bottle to pass between them. This means includes a notched stud 30 on each of the arms 29 as shown in Fig. 4 and a coil spring 31 engages the stud 30 and is secured at its opposite end to a projection 32 which is fixed to the supporting frame;

The arms are so adjusted relative to the position of the bottle on the carrier that the cutters 27 and 28 engage the label and bottle a short distance inwardly of the edge of the label. As the bottle is moved between the arms 26, the-cutters rotate and the springs 31 press the cutters 27 and 28 against the bottle 10. As the cutting edge approaches the edge of the label it is automatically raised from the surface of the bottle so as not to scratch the glass beyond the label. This is accomplished by means of the arms 29 engaging'the bottle and turning the pivot pins sufficiently to raise the cutters 27 and 28 from the bottles and permit the bottles to pass between the arms without further engagement with the cutters. This is illustrated' in Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 5 showing the position of the arms 29 out of contact with the bottle at the beginning of and during the cutting: operation. As the cutter reaches the edge of the label the arms 29 engage the bottle and turn the pivot pins 24 against the influence of the springs 31 and at the same time turn the arms 26 and the cutters 27 and 28. raising the cutters off the bottle surface. Fig. 6 illustrates how the cutters are held away from the bottle surface after contact between the arms 29 and the bottle. Each of the arms 26. is securely clamped on its pivot pin 24 by means of set screws 33 shown. in Fig. 2 andv corresponding set screws 35 clamp the arms 29 to the pivot pins 24-. Each supporting collar for the pivot pin 24 above each bracket is provided with two set screws 34 illustrated in Figs. 2 and Each supporting bracket 22 is provided on top with a fixed stud 37 for engagement by a pin 38 secured to the supporting collar" of each pin 24 whereby this stud 37 and pin 38 serves as a stop for the arms 26 and 29 to prevent their being pulled by the springs 31 further than the positions indicated where the cutters are in place for engagement with the bottles. As the arms 29 engage the bottle, they rotate the cutters 27 and 28 off the bottle surface. After these arms 29 continue their rotation to permit the bottles to pass between them, the projecting pins 38 are moved away from the studs 37 but after the bottle has passed through the arms the springs pull said arms back into position for engagement with the next bottle at which time the projecting pins 38 reengage the studs 37 to prevent further rotation of the arms 26 and 29.

To adjust the height of each arm 26 on the pivot pin 24 so as to cause the cutters to place the marks at the desired height, it is necessary to remove the screw key 39 from each arm 26 and the notch 25 so that the arms 26 may be adjusted to the desired height and the screw keys reinserted. It will be noticed that in Fig. l the label has its longitudinal edges 12 and 13 curved so that the-cutters will need adjustment laterally of the bottle and label to prevent their overrunning the label. edge. For this purpose the arms 26 and 29 should be rotatably adjusted. slightly with respect to the stop mechanism by means of the set screws 36 in the supporting collars. Byth-ese adjustments the position of the cutters for initial contact with the bottle will be slightly varied although the position of the stop mechanism 37 and 38 has not been afiected. Fig. 4 shows that in theform shown the arm 29 is split and held in position by means of the clamp screws 36-. In adjusting the arms 26 and 29 relative to the stop mechanism 37 and 38 the set screws 34, 35, and 36 are preferably loosened so that the arms 26 may be moved to enable engagement. tov be made between the cutter and container at the desired position with the studs 37 and pins 38 in engagement. After tightening the set screws 34 the arms 29 are subsequently adjusted and the screws 35 and 36 tightened so that the arms 29- engage the container and move the cutters therefrom when desired.

The lines shown on the edges 12 and 13 of the label in Fig. 1 instead of being'printed or scored may be omitted and the cut or slit located at some one of these positions. While printed lines have the advantage of making the cut less noticeable when they exactly coincide yet such do not possess this advantage if the out does not coincide with the printed line as would happen for example if the label were not precisely placed. Especially when no printed lines are used or when the label has come oft" the bottle, the use of a gauge is intended for measuring the distance from the bottom of the bottle to the mark in order that the significance of the mark may be ascertained from its location or height.

I claim:

1. The method of marking a package having a label secured against its surface which comprises cutting code markings through the lapel and into the package wall beneath the a el.

2. The method of marking a package having a label secured against its surface which comprises cutting at least one line through the edge of the label and into the pacakage wall beneath the label.

3. A method of marking bottles provided with labels which comprises cutting horizontal lines through the labels and into the bottle wall beneath the labels, thesignificance of a line being determined by its distance above the bottom of the bottle.

4. The method of marking a bottle having a label on its side wall which comprises establishing a code in terms of distances from the bottom of the bottle, and cutting short horizontal lines in the bottle wall label at dis tances from the bottom of the bottle to give desired information in terms of the established code.

5. The method of marking a bottle having a label on its side wall which comprises making transverse lines on the label by simultaneously rolling a plurality of cutting edges into the label, the significance of a line being determined by its distance above the bottom of the bottle.

6. The method of marking a bottle having a label secured to its wall which comprises making horizontal cuts by simultaneously rolling a plurality of cutting edges through the label and into the wall of the bottle.

7. A package marking machine comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position means to make at least one horizontal surface cut on the package as it is conveyed by said conveyor and means to automatically limit the length of the cut.

8. A package marking machine comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position, means carrying a cutting roller, means to bias said carrying means to establish contact between said cutting roller and a package conveyed by said conveyor to thereby make a surface cut on a passing package, and means to automatically retract said roller after it has made a predetermined length of cut as aforesaid.

9. A package marking machine comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position, means carrying a cutting roller, means to bias said carrying means to establish contact between said cutting roller and a package conveyed by said conveyor to thereby make a surface cut on a passing package, and means to automatically retract said roller after it has made a predetermined length of cut as aforesaid, said retracting means be ing adjustable to vary the length of the cut.

10. A package marking machine comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position, cutting means, means to bias said cutting means to establish contact between said cutting means and the wall surface of a package conveyed by said conveyor to thereby make a surface cut on the passing package,

and means to adjust the vertical position of,

said cutting means to thereby vary the vertical location of the cut on the package.

11. A package marking machine comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position, a pair of oppositely positioned cutting rollers mounted to permit packages conveyed by the conveyor to pass between the two rollers, and means to yieldingly bias the rollers toward one another to establish yield ing cutting contact between each of the rollers and articles conveyed by the conveyor.

12. A package marking machine comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position, a pair of oppositely positioned cutting rollers mounted to permit packages conveyed by the conveyor to pass between the two rollers, means to yieldingly bias the rollers toward one another to establish yielding cutting contact between each of the rollers and articles conveyed by the conveyor, and means to vertically adjust the rollers to vary the height of their cuton the packages.

13. A package marking machine compris ing a substantially horizontal conveyor operable to convey packages in an upright position, opposed cutting rollers positioned to permit packages conveyed by the conveyor to pass between them, means to bias said cutting rollers into cutting contact with packages conveyed by said conveyor to thereby make surface cuts on the passing packages, and means to automatically retract said rollers after they have made a predetermined length of cut on the package.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT F. HOFFMAN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,889,2L 6Q November 29, 1952c.

ALBERT F. HOFFMAN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column line 20, claim L strike out the words "bottle wall" and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 12th day of April, A. D 19758..

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents. 

